EARLY RESEARCH

Unit 6 - Commission

Research Key things to work out

1) The Science behind Telomeres 2) The target group 3) How to connect the science to the target group

1 the Science
I leE school 20 years ago. I vaguely remember making a DNA helix out of straws. But the science is beyond me and I cant nd any telomeres for dummies books, so I have harangued a science- teacher friend into explaining it all. This has been a huge help.

Cells

Humans are made of millions of cells. This has a number of benets: Cells can be specialised to do parUcular tasks groups of cells can funcUon as organs making a more ecient but complex organism the organism can grow very large

Cell division
New cells are needed throughout life. These are for growth, to replace damaged cells and repair worn out Ussues. Normal human body cells are diploid they have two of each chromosome. When new cells are made, these 46 chromosomes (in other organisms the number is dierent) are copied exactly in a process called mitosis. Mitosis is the type of cell division used for growth and repair. Mitosis occurs wherever new cells are needed. It produces two cells that are idenUcal to each other, and the parent cell. In mitosis each chromosome is copied exactly. The new chromosomes are moved to opposite sides of the cell, before the cell divides leaving one complete set of 46 chromosomes in each of the two new cells.

What are Telomeres?

What are telomeres? Repeated DNA that forms protecUve caps at the ends of our chromosomes. Telomeres perform a similar role to the plasUc Up at the end of a shoelace. Like these plasUc Ups that keep shoelaces from becoming damaged or frayed, telomeres protect our chromosomes from the criUcal shortening and damage that may ulUmately lead to cellular death and loss of health. Telomeres shorten overUme, and this shortening is considered both a marker of cell aging a clock of the cell's lifespan as well as a causal factor in cell aging. Telomere shortening is like a "geneUc Ume clock" indicaUng a reduced cellular lifespan. When telomeres reach criUcally short lengths, the clock "runs out of Ume," and cells cease to funcUon normally and can die altogether.

How are telomeres dierent from the rest of our DNA? Telomeres consist of a special D NA
sequence and specialized telomeric proteins that together form a protecUve cap on our chromosomes. Unlike any other part of the genome, they are considered a biological marker of the accumulated wear and tear of living, integraUng geneUc inuences, lifestyle behaviors and stress. Most importantly telomeres are the only known part of our geneUc sequence that are dynamic, and they appear to be inuenced by non-geneUc factors such as lifestyle changes (diet, behavior, and mental well being).

 How are telomeres related to life and aging?

Telomere shortening is inUmately involved in human disease and mortality. Short telomeres impair the ability of cells to divide properly. When the DNA in a cell is unable to properly replicate, the cell either undergoes cell death, or potenUally worse, conUnues to stay alive but funcUons poorly. Poorly funcUoning cells can alter a healthy physiological balance in the body, by, for example, creaUng a high level of pro-inammatory cytokines in the blood. Studies have shown associaUons between shorter telomere length and various types of cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke, heart aeacks), cancer, and diabetes. Shorter telomeres have also been associated with osteoporosis, cogniUve funcUon, demenUa, depression, and inammatory diseases like arthriUs. Conversely, longer telomeres are linked to healthy aging and overall longevity.

Target group
Children and young people dont want to know about aging. Older people dont necessarily want to know about aging, but are interested in how to hold the process o It is not relevant for the very elderly My target group is 50+ - they sUll have Ume to change their habits!

PresenUng InformaUon for the target group

It is reasonable to assume that companies such as Saga have done extensive market research into this target group.

However, a quick survey of people aged 50+ revealed that, while they are clear and easy to follow, these web-pages aimed at 50+ are at and uninspiring.

These examples have too much informaUon to be clear

These are clear, bright but not overpowering, and fun!

And the favourite

What part of the informaUon do they need/want to know?

From my select group of over 50s: What is happening, in lay-mans terms - minimal science How it impacts on me now Is it too late to bother worrying about it?